Apple Watch6 does not unlock Schlage Encode Plus with NFC but iPhone does

It's really weird. The manual says nothing about the Apple Watch but one of the FAQs does but the way it's written, it sounds as if they don't really know much about Apple Watches.

If you have the BE499 (Encode Plus), or BE479 (Schlage Sense) smart locks paired with Apple Homekit, you will be able to monitor the active status of your lock as well as lock or unlock your smart locks remotely using the Homekit watch app.

So, yeah, I'm inclined to agree with Carol B. Time to talk to Schlage directly.

NKBS3 wrote:

On your phone, go to the Watch app and go to ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’. From there tap on your Home Key and make sure Express Mode’ is turned on.

What do you mean by "Home Key"? A screenshot would be great.

Thank you! This was exactly what I was missing. I had express mode enabled on my phone, but not on "Other cards on your watch". Enabling this and giving it a minute did the trick.

To those having issues using NFC on your Apple Watch to unlock the Schlage Encode Plus after upgrading to a new iPhone, know that you can view the cards on your watch by double tapping the button under the dial. If you don't see your "Home Card" listed, then you need to enable Express Mode as NKBS3 mentioned. After enabling this the card will sync to your watch. Once the sync is complete you should be able to unlock the door by simply holding your watch to the center of the lock.

after I signed back in it took about an hour but started working (assuming you are running into same issue where it is in your wallet and shows “done”but nothing happens). I did take batteries out of the locks during that time as well. If you are not in that “done” state you are having a different issue. Good luck and keep us posted.

My home key just keeps saying "something went wrong. tap to try again"

Tapping the watch to the door lock used to work perfectly - stopped working after one of the watch updates. Can't get it to work again.

Thank you for your reply. On the page you cited the only support offered is chat with a virtual assistant. The virtual assistant said to put the watch in "Express" mode which I have already done. There doesn't seem to be any way to talk to tech support.

IdrisSeabright wrote:

Sometimes demanding the chatbot connect you to an actual human works.

Thank you IdrisSeabright but despite all my demands the chatbot will not tell me how to connect to an actual human. It just says no one is available.

Do they have a number to call for sales? If so, call that. Those numbers are always answered. Then, politely but firmly, ask to be connected to a live support person. If that is impossible, never buy anything from the company again.

tvn300 wrote:

I took this issue to Schlage directly (888-805-9837) and they don't know anything about the Apple Watch. Very willing to help with resetting their lock, adding to Homekit, etc, but when all that did not work, politely referred me to Apple.

That's not uncommon. But, it is their product and they advertise it as working with the Apple Watch so they should be able to support it. Not a good sign that they refuse to do so.

I'm glad that you found a solution. And, on behalf of other users who may have a similar problem, thanks for taking the time to post your additional conclusions.

After dithering for a couple of years, I just recently bought a lock from Philips that is a one that retrofits my existing deadbolt. It doesn't have the ability to lock or unlock with the phone (except through the app) or the watch but it was fairly cheap and very easy to install and set up.

I have tried all the listed "fixes" (not in any order)(I do not have a HomeHub. I am purely using bluetooth for now)

1- deleting/adding home kit on iPhone 13 Pro Max

2- toggle on/off background refresh on iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra 2

3- adding Schlage Encode Plus hardware using the picture on the back of the user manual (QR code under the battery cover does not work)

4- adding Schlage Encode Plus hardware by tapping top of iPhone to Schlage Encode Plus without the battery cover on

5- new batteries

6- restarting iPhone

7- restarting Apple Watch Ultra 2

8- adding Schlage Encode Plus using the Schlage App, then setting it up through Home Kit within the Schlage App

9- holding Apple Watch within 2 cm of Schlage Encode Plus for 30 seconds (multiple opening cycles)

10- adding Schlage Encode Plus using the HomeKit App only

11- making sure iPhone and Apple Watch are both up to date

All of the above "solutions"did not work. Apple Watch says either "try again" or "done", Schalage Encode Plus *beeps* and then nothing happens. All the while, tapping the top of my iPhone against the battery cover would instantaneously unlock the Schlage Encode Plus hardware

I was ready to give up having gone down the rabbit hole for more than a week. Today, I decided to check on the Apple Watch to see if there was an update ready to be installed.

THERE WAS AN UPDATE!!!!

It took 10 mins to download and install (I initiated the download on my iPhone). I didn't have much hope but after the update, I decided to tap my Apple Watch on the battery cover of the Schlage Encode Plus and...

IT FINALLY UNLOCKED.

Goodluck brothers/sisters...godspeed

Extra Points: My Apple Watch never unlocked my MacBook Air 2022 M2. I would always have to use the Touch ID on the laptop. Today, whenever the Mac Air needed authentication, my Apple Watch notified me to press the button below the crown. HOW COOL IS THAT?

I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max and Apple Watch Ultra (1). Even AFTER updating, about 25% of the time I’m unable to open the my Encode Plus locks with my watch. I can of course always use the key, and by getting the phone out and using the Schlage app, I can always open the door. My frustration lies with the intermittent issue of the watch doing nothing. The lock battery has always been above 50%, so “low battery” is not the issue. I do like these locks (on both front and back doors), but find this intermittent issue highly annoying.

I tried all the suggestions on this and other threads but nothing worked. Then all of a sudden it started working so that my Apple Series 6 watch now unlocks the door. I guess there was something in one of the updates that fixed it.

Does Schlage say you should be able to use the watch to do this?